Robbie & Mona - Wallpaper

FOLLOWING the announcement of another lockdown, the dreampop duo Robbie and Mona are happy to announce the delayed release of their debut album, EW, out on January 23rd via Spinny Nights. And they’re teasing for it today with the video for the single drop, “Wallpaper”.

The partnership of William Carkeet and Eleanor Gray, Robbie & Mona have found a vessel for their eclectic and atmospheric pop, combining hazy shimmering synths matched with Mona’s understated vocals.

The project began when William offered to produce Eleanor’s second album; that collaboration quickly transcended into the genesis of what is now Robbie & Mona. The majority of EW was recorded in the cellar of Bristol’s legendary The Louisiana, with additional bedroom recordings.

Influence by film soundtracks, “Wallpaper” would not be out of place in a David Lynch movie: that mix of tenderness and climactic synths, with guitars used sparingly around programmed drums.

Yet there was a far odder inspiration for this track, as Mona explains: “It’s about feeling quite passive and ghost-like, like you’re in the wrong realm, just an observer. The intro vocals were delivered without any thought in a bit of a daze.

“I think the tightness of the music was weirdly inspired by Napoleon Dynamite. We were watching it and really enjoyed how all the songs towards the end were just so deadpan.”

As members of that Bristolian collective Pet Shimmers, there is a fearlessness of combining sonic textures with familiar song structures, yet the songs carry that vibe of lo-fi indie. The album explores emotional complication and the feeling of alienation – it rewards multiple listens.

This minimalist approach to composition helps create an atmospheric aura of work for this duo who embrace harmony and theatricality to wonderful effect.

Follow Robbie and Mona on Facebook and Instagram.

The album is out on January 23rd from Spinny Nights

Still Corners - The Last Exit

 Still Corners have released their first music from their forthcoming fifth studio album, due for release on 22nd January 2021. The title track 'The Last Exit' is available now on all platforms.

Lead single/Title track from Still Corners' fifth album

There is an accompanying video in support of the track which is below

The musical project of Greg Hughes and Tessa Murphy, the group formed after a chance meeting when waiting for a train in London in 2009. Over the last decade the band have produced a steady stream of romantic and reflective music.

Signed to Sub Pop quickly after, they released two albums with the label before forming their own label Wrecking Light to release Dead Blue in 2016 and Slow Air in 2018 to critical acclaim.

The first single, is the final chapter of the Still Corners' road trilogy. What began with 'The Trip' and was followed by 'The Message' concludes with the stunning 'The Last Exit'. The video inspired by Peter Weir's 1975 classic Picnic at Hanging Rock finds Tessa pulled into the mysterious rocks of Joshua Tree.

Tessa explains: "In a world where everyone thinks all the corners of the map are filled in we like to suggest there's something beyond that, something eternal in the landscape and in our psyche.  Maybe you don't see it every day but it's there and that's what we are trying to connect to."

With a galloping beat and silver tone guitar creating this hypnotic hippy sound, The Last Exit races down a highway to destination unknown a bracing bout of elegance of a world unseen.

The album listing consists of 11 tracks:

• 1. The Last Exit
• 2. Crying
• 3. White Sands
• 4. Till We Meet Again
• 5. A Kiss Before Dying
• 6. Bad Town
• 7. Mystery Road
• 8. Static
• 9. It's Voodoo
• 10. Shifting Dunes
• 11. Old Arcade

Tessa further remarks on how the pandemic has brought a different focus on the album: “There's always something at the end of the road and for us it was this album. Our plans were put on hold – an album set for release, tours, video shoots, travel. We’d been touring nonstop for years, but we were forced to pause everything. We thought the album was finished but with the crisis found new inspiration and started writing again.” 

To learn more about the band go to their website or follow them on Twitter.

The fifth album from Still Corners The Last Exit is out on 22nd January 2021 from Wrecking Light Records, pre-order link here

Spice 'All My Best Shit'

The new single release from Californian band, Spice, this is a rip-roaring piece of grungy, fast adrenaline rock.

This is a song as much about anger and how to express it compared to sitting upon your emotions. In this day and age of mental awareness and being expressive about feelings, this is a guitar-driven indie rock song seeking to be heard amidst this pandemic of epic proportions.

The single 'All My Best Shit' is released ahead of the self-titled album out on July 21st from DAIS records.

The album is a nine track 30-minute cut of sonic infusion sparking discussion about co-existing with spikes of loud and soft, short and long but yet full of sparky punch and authority in this world of unrest.

The group comprise of Ross Farrar (vocals) and Jake Casarotti (drums) from the band Ceremony, along with Cody Sullivan (bass), Ian Simpson (guitar) and Victoria Skudlarek (violin) the band have honed a sound from the Bay Area pedigree full of modernity and anthemic yearning.

Spice is out from DAIS records on July 21st

Margaret Glaspy Returns

Singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy returns with a new album Devotion out on 27th March from ATO Records.

Following on from the release of her acclaimed debut in 2016 Emotions and Math and her EP Born Yesterday, and a three year trip on the road Glaspy is following a new direction on this new release.

She has released lead single 'Killing What Keeps Us Alive' which offers a new sound with digitised vocals and a bare electronic sound in contrast to the rich electric guitar swagger on her debut.

The new single which also has an excellent promo directed by Alex Chaloff which shows how colour can come to the fore if you look hard enough, and is as much about gestation and patience over the be here immediately mindset.

The album which was co-produced by Tyler Chester in Los Angeles features 12 love songs, of which Glaspy states, 'It's about letting love in even when you don't know what will happen when you do'

If the single/video is anything to go by, then listeners and fans both old and new are in for a pleasant surprise - gone is the angry guitar sound a la Glaspy's peer Anna Burch (herself returning with new material this year) and instead a more melodic and emotive soundscape - an artist willing to challenge herself in terms of production, subject matter and material.

Margaret Glaspy will be on tour in the UK for some selected shows:

27th March - Mono, Glasgow

28th March - Institute, Manchester

29th March - Fleece, Bristol

31st March - Lafayette, London

My thanks to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.

Night Flowers Return 'Fortune Teller'

Night Flowers return with new video and material ahead of new album on October 25th from Dirty Bingo Records

Night Flowers who wowed the British music industry with their full debut album, Wild Notion, have announced the release of their second album Fortune Teller on October 25th from Dirty Bingo Records.

The first music released is the title track and it is accompanied by a new music promo which is a 360 degree interactive video.

Featuring Sophia Pettit's great vocal, the London Indie quintet's album is a love letter to 20th century rock greats - Petty, Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac - and with Pettit at the helm the song carries a dream-pop uniqueness in this down on its luck political climate.

The song has chiming guitars, reflective synths and epic drums for a power ballad; with the lyrics evoking a need of the seven sins encompassing the singer on a journey. Reminiscent of their first album, there are great hooks, sweeping vocals and a feeling of euphoria.

It is great to have Night Flowers back and perhaps this will be the album that helps them break into the mainstream, the album cover is great and they are having a live show at Redon, London on 31st October.

The album can be pre-ordered here 

Follow Night Flowers on Twitter

My thanks to One Beat PR for the link

Modern Nature - 'Footsteps'

Modern Nature is a new group from Jack Cooper, famous for being Ultimate Painting; and they have released a new video for new single Footsteps ahead of the debut album release How To Live from Bella Union on August 23rd.

The new video is directed by Jake McGowan; and it follows a thread in the album Cooper says that is 'a journey from the chaos of the city to the sanctuary of the country, so we wanted to condense the idea down over the course of Footsteps with the final scene being a baptism...washing everything away'

McGowan harks back to famous British films that has its lense look upon non city scapes such as Withnail and I, Naked and Wish You Were Here; he uses the monotony and cyclical nature of life to make a statement that we need to get away and get back in touch with our selves and the conditions we live in.

The new group are a combination of Jack Cooper (Ultimate Painting), Will Young (BEAK>) plus Aaron Neveu (Woods) and Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers) - and having taken their name from a diary entry of Derek Jarman, the band are clearly struck by the mix of urban and rural.

On the new album, the urban and rural cross and collide with cello strings melting into electronic beats, rising melodies on saxophones combat guitar strums.  There is an exoticness to the music on Footsteps - organic compositions create a rich quality to the music.

The new single is a great taster for Modern Nature who despite fighting between the rural and the urban have found a unique world of their own to occupy.

How To Live will be released from Bella Union on August 23rd and available for pre-order here.

Black Country, New Road - New single

This debut single by new London six-piece Black Country, New Road entitled 'Athen's, France' is one of the weirdest, yet most delightful songs I have heard in a long time.

From the critically acclaimed Speedy Wunderground record label based out of the Brixton and surrounding areas - this single is another string to their ecletic bow.

This is a sprawling epic of young life in London, talking about sex and the fear of it -
an ever expanding world as horizons broaden. This track starts off one way and yet goes down other unexpected avenues reminiscent of a labyrinth with no clear direction or reckoning of where it will go.

The single is out on limited 7" vinyl (250 copies) and digital from 8th March via Speedy Wunderground.  The expression is symptomatic of the turnaround of the song production which was produced in a session on a Sunday in January 2019, having only been written the day before then mastered/mixed on the Wednesday after.  The urgency is captured in this snapshot of young life.

Black Country, New Road have some live dates including 26th January at Moth Club, Hackney a huge all-dayer event at Label Mates Festival. Tickets are available here 

My thanks to One Beat PR for the link.

Wild Pink Announce New EP

Following the success of their album Yolk in the Fur in 2018, the New York band are set to release a new EP in March 2019 entitled 5 Songs - featuring remixes of three existing album tracks and two unreleased songs from the album recording sessions.

Existing between the space between the understated debut album and the more expansive Yolk in the Fur which was a triumphant panoramic soundscape of an album. Featuring the hallmarks of The War on Drugs coupled with the adulation for the late Tom Petty, composer and lead guitarist John Ross could well be helping his side break for the mainstream.

Yolk in the Fur garnered much praise from many connoisseurs of rock music featuring on many a Best of 2018 list from Pitchfork to Steven Hyden.

On the EP, the remixes of album tracks in order 'There Is A Ledger', 'Love Is Better' and 'All Some Frenchman's Joke' from Shy Layers, Dondadi (side project of Connor Hanwick - sometimes member of Wild Pink) and Eerie Gaits (solo guitar project of John Ross himself). The two unreleased tracks are 'Coaches Who Cry' and 'How's The Tap Here' again showcase Ross' knack of writing subtle songs with a universality to them.

This couples with news of tour dates ranging from mid January culminating with a more expansive tour commencing in late April in Los Angeles ending in Philadelphia on May 10th. Support comes from Strand of Oaks.

Yolk in the Fur is out now from Tiny Engines.
5 Songs EP is out in March 2019 from Tiny Engines.

My thanks to Tiny Engines for the press release.

New Music 2nd May 2018

Following on from last week where I got to bear witness to the excellent album launch by Night Flowers, this week has led me to some other brand new releases of videos. And rather than post them all individually, here is a round-up of the best of them.

CAGEWORK 'Simmer'

The alter ego of Samuel Bedford, Cagework, shares a live session of debut single Simmer, in a video shot by Matt Martin.

Cagework plays solo on a near-raucous track which shows off his raw talent and relatable content.

Live shows coming across London and 23rd May at Rough Trade East

KADEEM TYRELL 'Focus'

Staying in South London but with a different musical bent, a new video for Tyrell by Kirx. Taken from new EP 'Feels', the new single is a throwback to early 1990s British RnB or nu-soul, an intelligent soulful record.  The video is a mature one also taking the record's content seriously.

KEVIN KRAUTER 'Keep Falling In Love'

Crossing the Atlantic, the new single from Krauter shows of his evocative ambient soundscape which comes from a huge range of influences.  His debut album Toss Up is out from Bayonet Records on 13th July.

Thank you for reading, please share with other music lovers out there.

Amber Arcades 'Simple Song'

Today, Amber Arcades (Annelotte De Graaf) released details of her second studio album, European Heartbreak, set for release on 28th September 2018 via Heavenly Recordings.

In conjunction, with today's thrilling news, Amber Arcades also shares new single, 'Simple Song' with accompanying video. This video is part two of a trilogy of videos where all three intertwine, the first being Goodnight Europe

The new album was recorded and produced with Chris Cohen in LA and Richmond, Virginia with Trey Pollard.  A step forward from the critically acclaimed Fading Lines, the album is European thematically and in the sophistication of the music constructed.

This is ushered in by the video which show the love affair we have with balmy European holidays, the romanticism of love overseas and the sunny disposition of being away.  The memory of such events are felt in the music about new love, love lost and the way memory plays tricks on you.  In that way it promises to be both truthful and disarmingly powerful.

Amber Arcades is playing some intimate shows in UK and Europe before summer festivals, landing in London at Omeara on June 7th.

Follow Amber Arcades on Twitter @AmberArcades

Night Flowers 'Wild Notion' Album preview

Following years of single tracks and EP releases the London quintet, Night Flowers are pleased to announce the release of their debut album Wild Notion on Friday 13th April from Dirty Bingo Records.

Two weeks ago, saw the release of lead single 'Losing the Light' which showcased the shimmering transatlantic pop the band are slowly becoming renowned for. On today's album release news, they share a video for new single 'Cruel Wind' the last track on the album. Epic in sound and scope, the video shows lead singer Sophia Pettit putting astronauts through their paces in training to reach for the moon; the video by film-making duo James Doherty and Laura Whittell is a mixture of ingenuity, archive footage and vision.

This goes hand in hand with the London dream poppers, who have been championed by Pitchfork and the NME, whilst featuring on shows by John Kennedy, Steve Lamacq and Radcliffe and Maconie.

The 'Cruel Wind' single can be purchased online here: http://hyperurl.co/cruelwind.  The song is a lovely sounding single which is a great example of the band's sunshine tinged music with sun tinged guitars, exhilarating compositions and goosepimply vocals.  As much as anything, it shows a band dealing with the past and embracing the future ahead of them with this album release.

Currently the band have one live show on Friday 27th April at The Lexington, London for the album launch which will be followed by various festival appearances across the summer.

Follow the band on twitter: @Night_Flowers_

Ezra Furman 'Suck the Blood from my Wound'

Out today from Bella Union is the next single from Ezra Furman from his February released album Transangelic Exodus, following the video release of 'Driving Down to LA'

Part concept record, part novel, part tale of America in this Trump-era Presidency; the song is a great example of the album on a whole - catchy hook, erstwhile lyrics and a yearning for a better world full of hope despite the anxiety with the current climate, as Furman himself vouches:

“What’s essential is the mood - paranoid, authoritarian, the way certain people are stigmatised. It’s a theme in American life right now, and other so-called democracies.”

Full of intensity but paired with a bracing honesty that has been missing from recent rock records that focus on nostalgia and catchiness, Furman along with his backing band The Visions, may well be able to breakthrough to the mainstream - following critical acclaim for 2015's 'Perpetual Motion People' - by making the first true rock and roll artefact of the Trump administration.

Ezra Furman is doing three brief shows in February followed by a headline show of bigger arenas including the Brixton Academy on Wednesday 23rd May.

The album Transangelic Exodus is released from Bella Union on 9th February, my full review will be following.

Laucan 'Wait for the Impact'

With his debut album FramesPerSecond being released on July 21st, Laucan has shared his new single 'Wait for the Impact' today featuring impressionistic lyrics and atmospheric soundscapes.




The alter ego of Laurence Galpin, Laucan follows up his well received debut EP Up Tomorrow with a Sunday Best release which showcases his symphonic folk with his recognisable falsetto voice with reverberating guitar sounds.

Laucan has two live dates upcoming, 21st July he appears at the Deer Shed Festival in Topcliffe and on 2nd September in Birmingham at the Moseley Folk Festival.

You can pre-order FramesPerSecond here

Follow Laucan on Twitter @laucanmusic

Thanks to OneBeatPR for the link